Irene Ashwell
Women's Land Army
Early Life:
Irene was born on the 29th June 1916 with her birth registered in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Her mother's maiden name was Angless. There is no mention of her parents or siblings in the records. In the 1939 Register and the 1940 electoral roll Irene is living in a communal house at 20 Ashleigh Street, Keighley. At this time she is working as a hosiery linker.
War Service:
In 1941 Irene joined the Women's Land Army (WLA) and served on the West Yorkshire List until 1946. At the end of the war Irene retired from the WLA and joined the Demob Scheme on the 2nd February. She was still living at 20 Ashleigh Street.
Later Life:
After retiring from the WLA Irene married William Wilkinson from Oakworth in 1954, living at 17 Compton Street and then 34 Birchwood Road. They had two children, a girl and a boy. William died in 1983 and after a long life Irene died at the age of 92 on the 1st March 2009.
Source Information:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales 1939 Register
Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England.
Women's Land Army record 1941-1945
England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 1916-2005
England & Wales Death Index 1989-2021
Keighley News
Ancestry.com. UK and Ireland, Obituary Index, 2004-Current [database on-line].
